Tow member launching and recovery apparatus



Nov. 8, 1960 R. P. BALDWIN EI'AL TOW MEMBER LAUNCHING AND RECOVERY APPARATUS original Filed June 14; 1957 mlmfm www ww /7 Trains' rs United States Patent hice lftented Nov. s, 1960 Rubi-.rt i. naleven, 475.0 Abw, vincent AFB; Clyde S. `lennings, Rte. 1, Box 639;V and Raymond H. Eckert, 2221 25th St., all of Yuma, Ariz.

Original application June .14, 1957, Ser. No. 665,870,

now Patent No. 2,892,599, dated June 30, 1959. Divided and this application Oct. 29, 1957, Ser. No. 693,214

3 Claims. (ci. 27s-105.3)

(Granted under Title 35, U.S. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the United States Government for governmental purposes without payment to us of any royalty thereon. Y

The present invention is a divisional application of our copending application, Serial Number 665,870, filed June 14, 1957, now Patent No. 2,892,599.

rvThe present invention relates to a device for use in towing operations to effect the launching, support and recovery of a member to be towed, released or carried; more particularly, the present invention relates to a tow target holder attachment for use in combination with a windlass unit and cable for aerial, high speed towing operations for executing the launching and recovery of a streamlined tow target.

A primary feature of the presentrinvention pertains to the mounting and disposition of a target launching and recovery assembly in such a way that the assembly cooperates with'a cable reeling means to rapidly and positively launch a tow target into the a'ir stream for high speed towing operations; and further establishes the cushioned retrieval of the target into the assembly upon termination of the towing operations. This invention thereby insures positive launching against vthe possibility of the target becoming lodged within the holdingassembly and also prevents any danger of damage to the target during the recovery or retrieval openation, together with additional advantages `to .be described.

VAn added feature of vthis invention 'is related to the 'provision of a vented shield or frame section forming the outer support structureior housing for the target assembly which cooperates with the holder assembly during the launching and recovery operations for the .admission of the air stream through the vented portions in 'the shell for forcing the target out of the holder. The flow of air through the vented shield also reduces turbulence in the air stream surrounding the assembly to Iaid in the recovery of the tow target. In addition, the`outer shell or frame provides a low drag surface during normal-flight operations and permits ease of attachment of the assembly either to form an integrated housing for a main windlass and drive unit for the tow cable, or as la separate attachment to the tow vehicle itself. v

Another feature is directed tothe use of a spring biased bulfer member to aid inthe support of the target within the outer shell and to operate ias a mechanical launching and recovery member during 'towing operations. The target holder 'attachment is thereby made'compact and reliable and serves as an eflicient, positive'launcher and recovery means during target operations.

In accordance with the foregoing advantages and features as set forth, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a tow member holding and supporting means responsive to the release and retrieval of 'a cable yand attached tow member for the rapid and rieliable launching of the tow member,together with the safe recovery and support of the two member into a predetermined position upon termination of towing operations.

The above features and advantages of the present invention, together with 4additional objects and advantages which may be more clearly understood from the following detailed, illustrative description considered together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tow target system including the launcher and holder assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a somewhat schematic longitudinal sectional view with parts being broken away illustrating the relative disposition of parts making up the tow target system including the attached launcher and holder assembly; and

Fig. 3 is a top schematic longitudinal sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but at right angles thereto.

With reference to the drawings, there is shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3 tow apparatus 10 including an outer streamlinedpod 11 which forms a housing for an air inlet section 12 with a pair of complementary, streamlined members 15 deining la forwardly tapering nose portion for the pod for controlling the flow of air into the air inlet section to direct air onto an impeller 17 disposed in the air inlet section; the impeller 17 in turn is directly coupled to an air driven windlass unit 19, or other suitable means for guiding and controlling the winding and unwinding of a cable 20.

Forming a rearward extension of the main pod 11 is a launching and recovery assembly 25 into which the tow cable 20 is directed from the main windlass unit for attachment to a streamlined, shaped tow target 24. The launching and recovery :assembly 25 is comprised broadly of an outer cylindrical shell or frame 26 having cutaway portions 27 with a target holder unit 28 which is made `up of target receiving surfaces or support means 29 and resilient biasing means 30 to perform the launching and cushioned retrieval of the Vtow target.

As shown, the cylindrical frame v26 preferably is integrally joined with the main pod 11 as a rearward extension thereof, the pod and frame forming separate compartments which are separated by a transverse annular plate v912 dening a support bulkhead disposed across the end of the pod. Mounted on the support bulkhead isra pulley 93 to guide the cable 20 into the target compartment for attachment tothe target, and suitable cable cutting means (not shown) are also mounted on the plate 92 for emergency release of the'target.

The target holder'unit'or holder means 28 is mounted within vthe frame 26 by means of a plurality of longeron supports 94 which are'extended the length of the pod and frame and are spaced circumferentially about theinn'cr surfaces thereof. The holder unit 28 is dened by the target receiving means 29 which is made upfofbefveledV surfaces or pads secured to brackets 99 which extend inwardly from the longeron supports 94 at the rearward, entry end of the frameV 216. The target receivingk surfaces or Apads are beveled and disposed so las to conform tothe size and shape of the streamlined tow target when positioned within the shell with the nose of the target adjacent the support bulkheadg92. The target holder jiiit also includes the buffer means 30 having a nose contactingyo'r engaging surface 95 vto support the nose of the targetin positionrwithintheV target holder assembly when the pads are embracing the body of the target. y The n'o'se contacting surface` is preferably formed of a cuprnernber which is'piyotally mounted by meansof doublepivot arms V95a connectedto one ofthe longe'rony support '921 and extended radially and inwardly therefrom Awit` cup'inember 95 secured`by`meains ofcross pins 97 "t`o=tlle` in swiveled connection to the arms 95a to allow the cup to pivot rearwardly and forwardly along the longitudinal axis of the frame. The opposite or outer ends of the arms 95a have a spring member 98 attached thereto, the spring member in turn being secured to one of the brackets 99 to rearwardly bias the cup member and pivotal arms. In this manner, the spring biased arms and cup member together form a buffer means operating as a nose contacting surface and support as the target enters the frame, and upon release of the cable 2t), acts as a launcher to push the target out of the frame. Of course, when the target is to be suspended within the `frame between towing operations, the buffer cooperates with the pads 29 to hold the target in place Within the frame.

The cup member is further provided with a cable guide opening 101 extending therethrough to receive the cable line for connection to the nose of the tow target. The cable line is thereby guided into the target compartment at the most effective point so that control of the cable and target will also control the movement of the buffer system.

It is not necessary that the beveled pads 29 form spaced surfaces about the circumference of the entry end of the frame, but may also consist of other suitable target engaging surfaces such as a beveled ring surface or flexible rim support at the rearward end of the frame. The of spaced, rigid pad surfaces, however, are of particular advantage in that they can be made flexible to assist in the cushioning retrieval of the target, yet are rigid and do not tend to jam or lodge the target within the frame thus making target release much easier.

An alternative attachment of the assembly 25 is as a separate holder assembly apart from the main target system by securing it to some other point on the tow vehicle or aircraft such as to the undersurface of the wing or a fuel tank. In using the holder assembly as a separate the unit the forward end of the frame would include the supported bulkhead 92 and would preferably further include a streamlined nose portion to decrease the drag effects of the air stream. The air would be drawn into the target compartment by means of the cutaway sections provided on the frame 26.

In order to launch the tow target for towing operations, the cable reeling means or windlass unit 19 is released for unwinding of the cable 20 preferably as described in our copending application hereinbefore specified. Prior to release of the cable reeling means the cup member 95 is forwardly biased due to the tension applied on the cable by the cable reeling means. Upon release, the tension is relieved on the cable to permit the buffer member to spring rearwardly and the air stream entering the target compartment together with the spring biased buffer member will then cooperate to expel the tow target out of the target holder unit. Once into the air stream the target will be forced rearwardly by the drag of the air stream until the desired distance from the aircraft is reached at which time the cable reeling means are braked to prevent further unwinding of the cable. Upon the termination of the towing operations, the cable reeling means are then operated in the reverse direction to wind the cable and retrieve the tow target.

As the target approaches the rearward, entry end of the frame, the cup member will remain rearwardly biased adjacent the entry end of the frame to contact the nose of the target as it enters the target compartment. The tow target can then be smoothly pulled into the center of the target holder uni, since the cup member is centralized and holds the towline centralized and cushions the entry of the target into the center of the target compartment. In addition the vented portions 27 on the frame permit the llow of air into the holder unit to substantially reduce the turbulence in the air stream surrounding the holder unit so as to maintain a relatively uniform tlow area; and the entry of air through the holder 4 unit also reduces the drag imposed by the air stream on the entire target assembly.

As described, it can be seen that the target launching and recovery assembly constitutes a compact and lightweight, yet a highly eiicient and reliable positive launching and recovery means for high speed tow target operations. The target assembly can also be used as an attachment forming an integral extension of a main tow target system, or as a separate target holder unit.

It is to be understood that the present invention as hereinbefore set forth is not to be limited to the exact construction illustrated and described, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

l. In an air-borne towing apparatus wherein a reeling member is disposed within a substantially cylindrical pod for the controlled release and retrieval of a tow cable and an attached, streamlined tow target, the combination therewith of a target launcher and recovery assembly including a cylindrical shell forming a rearward extension of said pod; target holder means disposed within said shell so as to conform to the size and shape of the forward portion of said tow target, said holder means including a forwardly and rearwardly movable target nose contacting surface member, a pivotal arm pivotally connected at one end to said shell and at its other end to said contacting surface member, and a spring member connected between said arm and said shell for rearwardly biasing said nose contacting surface member to a position adjacent the rearward entry end of said shell, said nose contacting surface member having a cable guide opening to receive said cable for attachment to the nose of said target whereupon said nose contacting surface member is operative to yieldingly engage the nose of said target for entry into said holder means and is further operative by pivotal movement of said arm to launch said target rearwardly from said target holder means upon release of said tow cable.

2. Apparatus of the character described for the controlled release and retrieval of a streamlined, shaped tow target wherein means are provided for driving and controlling the winding and unwindng of a windlass and a tow cable attached to said tow target, the combination therewith comprising: a tow target launching and recovery assembly having a cylindrical, vented frame, said frame forming a rearward extension of said windlass; means disposed within said frame for holding and launching said tow target including a plurality of beveled pad surfaces disposed in predetermined, spaced relation about the rearward, target entry end of said frame, said pad surfaces tapering inwardly and forwardly, a double arm member pivotally secured to said frame and a cup member in swiveled connection to the inner free end of said double arm so as to be movable along the longitudinal axis of said frame between a forward position and a rearward position adjacent the entry end of said frame, and a spring member to bias said cup member to the rearward position, said cup having a cable guide opening to receive said tow cable for attachment to said tow target whereby tension applied to said tow cable and attached target will force said cup to the forward position with said pad surfaces engaging and supporting said target and, whereupon release of tension on said cable and target, said spring-biased cup will be operative to launch said target from said assembly.

3. An aircraft airborne streamlined tow target member launching and recovery apparatus comprising; a unitary substantially cylindrical shell, having a central axis, an air turbine rotatable on said central axis Within said shell, a venturi air intake in the forward end of said shell for receiving slipstream air for operating said turfbine, air control regulating means at the forward end of said shell for controlling the amount of slipstream air admitted to said turbine, a tow cable windlass rotatably mounted Within said shell on said central axis rearwardly of said turbine and venturi, directly connected to said turbine for direct drive operation of said windlass, a tow cable wound on said windlass, two cable guide means disposed centrally within said shell rearwardly of said windlass, a tow target buter and ejector mounted wholly within said shell for forward and rearward movement within the rear end of said shell for receiving the nose of the tow target, buffer supporting means carried by the inner wall of said shell for guiding said buffer means forwardly and rearwardly substantially on said central axis, said buffer having a central tow cable guide opening therethrough for guiding said tow cable rearwardly out of the center of the rear end of said shell, spring means connected between said supporting means and said shell for yieldably urging said supporting means and said buffer means rearward toward the rear end of said shell, and resilient bufer means within the rear end of said shell, disposed on the inner wall of the rear end of said shell in radially spaced relation toward said central axis for supporting engagement with the nose portion of a streamlined tow target connected to said tow cable and drawn into the rear end of shell by said tow cable, displacing said buffer means forwardly against the tensions of said spring means, said buffer and ejector comprising: a pair of spaced parallel levers of substantially equal length pivoted to the inner side of said cylindrical shell adjacent the rear end thereof in axially spaced relation, said levers pivotally connected at their opposite ends to said buffer and ejector in axially spaced relation substantially on said central axis, and said spring means comprises a spring connected to at least one of said levers in radially spaced relation to said central axis and extending rearwardly under tension with its opposite end connected to the interior of said shell within and adjacent the rear end of the shell.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,272,213 Lear Feb. 10, 1952 2,751,167 Hopper June 19, 1956 2,778,584 Wilson Jan. 22, 1957 2,813,719 Hopper Nov. 19, 1957 

